Capturing eye gaze synchrony in a triadic discussion: A proof-of-concept study

Matar, Maria [UCL] Heeren, Alexandre [UCL]

Eye gaze synchrony, or the temporal coordination of eye gaze between interacting partners, is one of the most determining signals of social engagement and bonding. Yet, despite years of research on human interactions, its operationalization still poses a challenge to scientists. This is especially true for interactions involving more than two partners, due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate and precise gaze measurements in ecological settings. The present pilot explores the feasibility of capturing triadic eye gaze synchrony in a naturalistic discussion between three participants using mobile eye tracking. We tackle the problem of spatiotemporally integrating data from multiple (mobile) eye trackers and implement several approaches to the quantification and assessment of triadic eye gaze synchrony. In revealing this to be feasible, our work offers a proof of concept and methodology for researchers wishing to do the same. The limitations of currently available technology are discussed.